DANNY Cowley has praised Colchester United's supporters for their backing in his first game in charge after his side battled back to draw at Swindon Town.

Nearly 350 U's fans backed their team from start to finish at the County Ground, as Cowley's new side came from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw.

Colchester's supporters gave Danny and Nicky Cowley a warm welcome singing their names throughout and after the final whistle - and the new U's head coach said the backing went a long way.

Cowley said: "The supporters were brilliant - they were brilliant when we first arrived, they were brilliant when we came out and all through the game.

READ MORE: Danny Cowley's verdict on Colchester's draw at Swindon Town

"I remember being a West Ham supporter at Nottingham Forest and losing 4-0 in the FA Cup, when Tony Gale got sent off.

"The West Ham supporters sung for the whole match 'Billy Bonds' Claret and Blue Army'.

"That's what it reminded me of today and I can't remember as good an atmosphere.

"They were right with the team, even when we were 2-0 down and that to me is what defines a support.

Gazette:

"It's easy to support a team when everything is good and everyone wants to be associated with it.

"But the team has been on a really difficult run, was 2-0 down and they easily could have got frustrated and disappointed and no-one would have blamed them but they didn't; they stuck with the boys.

"All the boys, to a man said as they came in 'how good was the support today?'.

"That means so much to us; my whole life I've run towards challenges, that's what I've done and that's the way I like to live my life - we know that this is not going to be easy or straight forward.

"We need everybody that has Colchester United in their heart to come together and really fight for this cause."